Return header



April 23, 1929. J PR|MROSE 1,710,513

RETURN HEADER Filed July l, 1925 xNvENToR WMM/ae ATTORNEY Patented Apr. '.23, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATNT `FFICE.

JOHN rRIMEosE, or "RICHMOND, NEW Yeux, AssIGNoR To FOSTER WHEELER con- PORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RETURN l-IIEADIEIR.4

Application med my 1,

My present invention relates to tube con'- nectors of the type commonly called return bends, or return Yheaders which are employed to connect the ends of parallel tubes for series flow therethrough, and particularly to return headers adapted for use under relatively severe conditions as in tube oil stills.

The general object of my present invention is to provide a return header of improved construction suitable for use of the character 'speciiied above, and devised with the general object of obtaining a smooth stream line flow of the fluid passing through the header and characterized by its strength, compactness` reliability, and relatively low cost of production, and by the provisions made for the adjustment to the header Yof the tubes connected thereto, and for the inspection, cleaning, and renewal of the tubes when this is necessary or desirable.

The various features of novelty which characterize my inventioniare pointed out with particularity in the claim annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For ia better understanding4 of the invention, however, its advantages and specific objects attained with its use reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter: in which I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention.

Of the drawings :A i

Fig. 1- is an elevation'with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is a Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with parts removed;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a hand hole plug securinglr part; l

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a hand hole plug; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken similarly to Fig. l illustrating a portion of a modified construction. I

In the drawings, and referring iii-st to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, A represents a cast metal return header, and B the passage therein for fluid, which' enters the passage from one, vand leaves it through the other of two parallel tubes D having their ends secured in openings C in one end wall of the header. The ends of the tubes D ordinarily will be secured inopenings C by expanding` or helling the inserted tube ends, as

`hand hole opening.

section on the line .2`-2 of f 1925. Serial No. 40,713.

shown. Opposite each opening C is a hand hole opening E. The latter comprises an inner portion of cylindrical outline and an immediately adjacent outer portion E also cylindrical but of larger diameter. The portion of the wall of each hand hole opening E between the portion E and the cylindrical portion at the inner side of the latter is beveled ol'l' to provide a conical seat E2 for the corresponding hand hole plug member F. Each plug member F comprises a cylindrical bodyl portion received in the corresponding inner hand hole portion E', an enlarged head portion received in the hand hole opening E, and an intervening conical portion F2 which seats against the conical seat E2. At the outer end of its portion E, each hand hole opening is further enlarged at E3 to receive diametrically opposed lateral exten-v sions G of a corresponding hand hole plug securing member G which take under cut away rib portions A of the member A projecting laterally into the outer end of the' VVllhe ribs A are cut away, as indicated at F4, so that by giving the member G a quarter turn about the axis of th'e hand hole opening from the position shown in Figs. l and y3, the extensions G will enter the notches E4 and the plug or securing device G, and the' hand hole plug F can then be axially removed. With the extensions G located beneath the ribs A as shown in Figs. l and 3, however, the member G restrains outward movement of the plug F.

To enable the plug F to be forced snugly against its conical seat E2 in the normal condition of the apparatus, the securing device G is formed with a central threaded opeing receiving an abutment screw H, the outer` end of which is made hexagonal or otherwise shaped for engagement -by a wrench and the inner end offwhich engages the plug F to force the latter against its seat. Advantageously, the plug F is formed with a recessed seat in its outer end for a disc-like wear member f shaped to provide a concave seat for the convex inner end of the member H. To pretent accidental separation of the parts when the hand hole plugF is removed, the member H is advantageously made hollow to receive a stud bolt I, having its inner end tapped into the plug which ordinarily is not screwed up tightly Walls curved about the axis of flow through the passage between the connected tubes D.

To preserve lthe desired smooth passage contour, the inner end of each plug F is beveled off and concaved to provide an end surface F which forms a smooth curved.,y extension of 4and tubes connected to it.

the outer curved wall of the passage B. To insure the proper angular disposition of the plug F with reference to the axis of the hand hole opening, the latter is provided with a projecting finger f', shown as detachably secured to the head of the plug which enters an axially extended recess E5 formed in the outer Wall of the portion E of the hand hole opening in line with one of the notches E4.

The construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, permits of shaping the passage B in the return header in the manner required to insure a stream line fiow of the fluid passing through. it thereby desirably reducing the pressure head required for maintaining the desired rate of flow through the return header At the same time, the return header, as a whole, is characterized by its simplicity, effectiveness, and the relatively low cost at which it can be produced. The manner in which the hand hole plugs are secured in place insures tight joints and a consequent avoidance of leakage, with ample strength to withstand the high internal pressure prevailing in oil heaters and other forms ofJ apparatus in which the invention may be employed with advantage. Furthermore, the necessary strength, and a desirable facility for readily securing the hand hole plugs in place, and for removing them `.when .occasion requires, is obtained with a return header which because of itsl own compactness, as well as because of the location of the hand hole openings and the character of the means employed for closing them, permits of a very close spacing of the different tubes D of the apparatus, which is ay matter' of prime importance in various forms of apparatus in which the return header construetion may be used with especial advantage.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 6, the inner portion of each hand hole opening EA, and the inner portion of the corresponding hand hole plug FA are arranged and shaped as in the construction rst described, but the outer portion E10 lof the hand hole opening is enlarged and internally threaded to receive an externally threaded nipple-like extension L of an annular member L. The latter is formed with a beveled seat L2 for the conical portion F1o of the plug FA'which connects the inner end of the latter to a cylindrical outer portion loosely received in the bore of the member L. At its outer end the plug FA is formed with a threaded stem F11 which passes through a clamping washer K which is snugly held at its periphery against the outer end of the member L b a nut screwed Aon the endy of the threaded stem F11. r1`he inner face of the body portion of the member L may be recessed to receive packing J provided to prevent leakage through the joint between the member L and thereturn header A. The construction shown in Fig. 6 is somewhat simpler than that shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and possesses the additional advantage over the latter that the pressure" of the Huid within the return header serves to hold the conical portion F10 of the hand lhole plug against the seat L2 and thereby minimize liability of leakage.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustratedand described the best forms of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form' of the apparatus disclosed Without departing from the spirit of my inventionv as set forth in the appended claims, and that certain features of the invention may sometimes be used with advantage without a corresponding use of othenfeatures. 1 Y

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A return-header adapted for usein a pressure pipe system formed at one side with tube openings, and formed at the opposite side with a hand hole opening Which has its outer portion enlarged and is shaped to provide a seat between its inner and outer portions,

and formed with ribs projecting into the enlarged outer portion of the opening at different points around the axis of the latter, a plug filling the innrend of said opening and having an enlarged outer head engaging said seat and having a central recess in its Outer end, an abutment membermounted in said recess, a plug securing block shaped to.

clear said ribs and thereby permit the axial insertion of the block in the outer portion of' said opening and having portions passing under the projections when the inserted block is rotated, and a clamping screw threaded through said block and engaging said member to press said plug against said seat.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 29th day of' June, A. D. 1925..

' JOHN PRIMROSE. 

